GILROY—On April 18, Zack Cefalu quietly made Cougar history.
There were no balloons or speeches, but the modest senior became the first lacrosse player from Christopher High to sign a letter of intent to play in college. He was surrounded by his family as he committed to the University of Nevada, Reno at home.
Cefalu is joining a Wolf Pack team that won the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League Division II title in 2014 and is poised to repeat. UNR is undefeated (10-0) so far this season. The team will make the jump to Division I next year.
“I can’t wait,” Cefalu said of signing. “It’s my dream to play college lacrosse, so I’m definitely happy he (head coach Chris Tatro) gave me that call and gave me this opportunity.”
Cefalu joined the Cougars lacrosse team his freshmen year and fell in love instantly. Coach Tim Pirozzoli said the senior attacker has flourished during his tenure with the team and he’s proud to see him taking his talents to the collegiate level.
“He’s getting ready and it’s really special to have someone like him take that next step,” the Cougar coach said. “(I’m glad) to be able to help in any little way that I have. He’s a great kid, he works hard and he deserves it.”
Having played club lacrosse at the University of Pacific, Pirozzoli knows what it will take for Cefalu to be successful. In high school, mistakes are forgiven. But in college, Pirozzoli said, you have to play flawlessly each time you step on the lacrosse field.
“It’s just consistency in what you can do—cross catch, ground ball—whatever it is, you do it right every time. That’s really the step up from high school to this is that consistency of the skill level is really important,” he said.
Cefalu has been putting in long hours to make sure he’s ready when he arrives at UNR.
After hanging up his Christopher jersey for the season, Cefalu would put on another for his box—or indoor—lacrosse league he plays for in San Jose. He is constantly working to get better and faster at the sport he loves.
“I would just always have a lacrosse stick in my hands,” Cefalu said.
While Cefalu is first to move on to play college lacrosse, Pirozzoli is confident he won’t be the last. He said the senior attacker has others inspired to continue playing once they leave Christopher High.
“There’s definitely some kids who have been thinking that way and this is definitely a good way to say ‘hey, if Zack can do we can all do it’,” Cougar coach Pirozzoli said. “That’s what I try to impress on them is if you do things the right way, you work hard at it, you will benefit.”
